Ski binding



Sept. 30, 1969 m ET AL 3,469,857

I SKI BINDING Filed Dec. 26, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 30, 1969 T. G. SMOLKA ETAL 3,469,857

SKI BINDING Filed Dec. 26, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet fi United States Patent Int. Cl. A63c 9/00; H01f 1/00, 7/04 US. Cl. 280-1135 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ski binding which is capable of being opened with a ski pole or manually, which comprises a portion of the ski binding which engages a ski pole, and a magnet comprises a catching magnet for the ski pole.

The present invention relates to the ski binding which can be opened by pressure on a knob, a lever or the like, by means of a ski pole or by hand.

In order to avoid the uncomfortable relief of tension or tension of ski bindings by the skier in bent position and manually, respectively, it has been proposed before, to equip the tensioning levers with operating projections, which make possible jointly with the ski pole a securing and releasing of the binding. By a corresponding deepening or recessing of the operating projection, a sliding off of the ski pole point is avoided to a great extent.

The drawbacks of these known devices consist, however, in measures, according to which the receiving positions for the ski pole point on the tensioning lever are comparatively small, so that it is often diflicult to hit these points with the ski pole point. A fast securing and loosening, respectively, of the ski binding to and from the ski boot, respectively, is, thus, not always assured with this known device.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a ski binding, wherein the drawbacks of the known devices are completely avoided.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ski binding, wherein at the point, where the ski pole is supposed to engage, a magnet, as a catching magnet, is provided for the ski pole and for the ski pole point, respectively. A magnet with a wide sprayingout magnetic field is used thereby, which magnet is protected, for instance, as an oxide magnet by an antimagnetic housing against damage with the ski pole. The securing of the magnets can be obtained by screwing on, pasting on, and riveting on, whereby during riveting-on and screwing-on, it is to be observed, that the securing means consist of nonmagnetic material, in order not to create a short circuit between the magnet poles because of power losses.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective total view of the ski binding;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a ski binding; and

FIGS. 3 to 5 are sections of constructive details of the device.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to "ice FIG. 1, it will be recognized that the ski boot 7 is held down by a known heel holder 8 on the ski 9. The heel holder 8 carries on its upper side an iron plate 2, on which a permanent magnet 1 is disposed. If one presses now with the ski pole point 6 of the ski pole 10 on the permanent magnet 1, by a swinging of the plate 2, the ski holder 8 is opened and the skier can step out with the ski boot 7. It is very easy thereby, to hit with the ski pole point 6 the permanent magnet 1, since this point is formed of magnetizable material, for instance, of steel. It sufiices thus to reach with the ski pole point 6 the approximate nearness of the permanent magnet 1. The wide spraying magnetic field of this magnet catches then the steel pole point 6 and guides the latter centrally to the magnet. An uncomfortable searching of this opening point with the ski pole point is thereby avoided.

Referring new again to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 2, the structure is easily understood, in accordance with the above statements. Again, it is shown, how the ski pole point 6 is caught by the magnet 1 which is disposed on an iron plate 2. FIG. 3 permits recognition, that the magnet 1 is protected by means of an antimagnetic housing 3. The shown slight curvature on the upper side simplifies furthermore the cooperation between the ski pole point and this operation in position. In accordance with FIG. 4, the magnet 1 is secured to the plate 2 by means of a layer of glue. FIG. 5 discloses a construction, according to which the magnet 1 is nonreleasabl disposed on the plate 2 by means of a rivet 5.

The present invention is not limited to the shown examples. The catching magnet 1, according to the present invention, can be also applied for the closing of the binding parts. It can be disposed not only on the heel holder, but'also on other binding parts, particularly also 'on a front holder. If these parts are substantially nonmagnetic, or for instance, of synthetic material, the ski point can also be a permanent magnet, and on the mentioned nonmagnetic parts must then be disposed for suitable cooperation, a magnetizable material member. It is as a matter of course also thinkable to form both cooperating parts, namely, the ski-pole hole magnetically such, that upon a narrowing of both parts, the magnetic field is increased. The permanent magnet can have any suitable shape and can also be formed annularly.

We claim:

1. A ski binding capable of being opened with a ski pole or manually, comprising means for opening said ski binding by a point of a ski pole,

said ski binding opening means and said point of a ski pole constituting cooperative members, and

a magnet constituting an attracting magnet secured to one of said cooperative members, the other of said cooperative members including a metallic portion attracted by said magnet, whereby when said point of said ski pole is moved in the approximate area of said ski binding opening means said point of said ski pole is accurately directed magnetically to said ski binding opening means.

2. The ski binding, as set forth in claim 1, which includes a nonmagnetic protecting housing securing said magnet to said ski binding.

3. The ski binding, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said magnet is substantially circular and effects a wide spraying-out magnetic field.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 362,182 12/1954 Switzerland.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner 5 MILTON L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

Crowther.

Lookholder 335285 Harmon 33528S XR Osmun.

Braun.

Smolka et al.

Stemke et a1. 335302 .ITOREIGN, PATENTS 

